Chief Executive Officer - YWCA Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Full-Time | Reports to the Board of Directors
Salary: $155,000 – $170,000
Lead the Next Chapter of Impact at YWCA Lancaster
Exceptional leadership opportunities are rare. The opportunity to build upon more than a century of community trust while shaping the future of one of Lancaster County's most respected nonprofit organizations is even rarer.
YWCA Lancaster is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and community-minded Chief Executive Officer to lead an organization that enters this leadership transition from a position of strength. With healthy finances, a dedicated Board of Directors, exceptional employees, committed volunteers, and deep community trust, YWCA Lancaster offers the next Chief Executive Officer something few executive opportunities provide—a strong foundation already in place and the opportunity to build upon it.
The next Chief Executive Officer will not be asked to rebuild the organization. They will be asked to expand its impact. By strengthening philanthropic investment, cultivating strategic partnerships, empowering employees, and advancing innovative approaches to serving women, children, and families, the next CEO will help position YWCA Lancaster for its next generation of growth while preserving the mission, culture, and values that have earned the organization's reputation throughout Lancaster County.
If you are energized by leading organizations through growth, inspiring exceptional people, building meaningful relationships, and creating lasting community impact, we invite you to explore this unique leadership opportunity.
Why YWCA Lancaster?
This is far more than an executive leadership position—it is an opportunity to shape the future of one of Lancaster County's most respected nonprofit organizations while building upon an extraordinary legacy of service.
YWCA Lancaster offers a rare opportunity to lead an organization with financial strength, operational stability, an engaged Board of Directors, dedicated employees, committed volunteers, and the trust of the community already in place. Rather than stepping into an organization in transition, you will inherit a strong foundation and the opportunity to thoughtfully build upon it.
Lancaster County is a community where leadership is visible and relationships matter. The partnerships you build with donors, foundations, businesses, elected officials, fellow nonprofit leaders, and community organizations will shape the organization's future for years to come. Working alongside talented employees and passionate community partners, you will have the opportunity to expand YWCA Lancaster's reach, strengthen its financial sustainability, and increase its impact while preserving the mission, culture, and values that have made the organization one of the region's most trusted nonprofit leaders.
To learn more about YWCA Lancaster, our mission, programs, and community impact, please visit:
www.ywcalancaster.org
Your Leadership Opportunity
Success in this role will be measured not simply by organizational performance, but by your ability to build upon YWCA Lancaster's strong foundation while positioning the organization for its next chapter of growth and community impact. You will succeed by:
- Becoming a trusted strategic partner to the Board of Directors, helping shape the organization's future, not simply implementing its decisions.
- Continue strengthening the organization's financial health through sound fiscal stewardship, diversified fundraising, and meaningful philanthropic investment.
- Building a credible strategy for sustainable growth through expanded partnerships, new funding opportunities, and thoughtful innovation grounded in financial discipline.
- Leading with visibility by working alongside employees at every level, fostering a culture where accountability and compassion exist side by side, every individual feels valued, and collaboration and innovation thrive.
- Inspiring, developing, and empowering employees while building leadership capacity and creating an environment where people are encouraged to grow, contribute, and succeed.
- Serving as the organization's chief ambassador by strengthening relationships with donors, foundations, businesses, elected officials, volunteers, and community partners throughout Lancaster County.
- Preserving the mission, culture, and community trust that have made YWCA Lancaster exceptional while positioning the organization for continued growth, long-term sustainability, and lasting community impact.
Primary Areas of Executive Leadership
Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Partner with the Board of Directors to establish and execute the organization's strategic vision and long-term direction.
- Serve as the Board's chief executive advisor while implementing organizational priorities and policies.
- Lead strategic planning that advances both mission impact and financial sustainability.
Financial Stewardship & Fund Development
- Provide executive oversight of budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, compliance, investments, and organizational performance.
- Lead comprehensive fundraising initiatives including major gifts, annual giving, foundation relations, government funding, corporate partnerships, and planned giving.
- Ensure long-term financial sustainability through diversified revenue growth and sound fiscal management.
Organizational Leadership
- Inspire, develop, and retain exceptional employees while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.
- Build organizational capacity through leadership development, succession planning, and continuous improvement.
- Promote employee engagement while strengthening communication, teamwork, and organizational effectiveness.
Operations & Facilities
- Provide executive oversight of all organizational operations, programs, personnel, technology, and facilities.
- Oversee a unique multi-story campus in the heart of Lancaster that includes residential housing, community-based programming, and licensed childcare services operating within a blend of historic facilities and newly constructed spaces, ensuring operational excellence, safety, compliance, and long-term stewardship of the organization's physical assets.
Community Leadership & Advocacy
- Serve as the chief ambassador and public face of YWCA Lancaster.
- Strengthen relationships with nonprofit organizations, businesses, educational institutions, government leaders, foundations, and community partners.
- Champion initiatives that advance equity, opportunity, justice, and meaningful community change.
Executive Leadership Profile & Qualifications
Education
- Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Social Work Administration, or a related discipline, with an advanced degree valued but not required. Or
- equivalent progressive executive leadership experience demonstrating the strategic, financial, and organizational capabilities required to successfully lead a complex nonprofit organization may be accepted in lieu of traditional education paths.
Experience
- Progressive executive leadership experience leading complex organizations with responsibility for organizational strategy, financial management, operations, and people leadership.
- Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with Boards of Directors and executive leadership teams.
- Experience overseeing organizational budgets, financial reporting, compliance, strategic planning, and operational performance.
- Experience leading organizational growth, change management, and strategic initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated success cultivating major donors, foundation relationships, corporate partnerships, and diversified fundraising strategies.
- Experience serving as the public face of an organization while building strong community relationships.
- Executive leadership experience within nonprofit, healthcare, education, government, or other mission-driven organizations.
- Experience overseeing residential, childcare, or community-based programming.
- Outstanding communication, relationship-building, financial management, and organizational leadership skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and advancing the mission of YWCA Lancaster.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: $155,000 – $170,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
YWCA Lancaster offers a competitive executive compensation package including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement benefits, generous paid time off, professional development opportunities, and the opportunity to lead one of Lancaster County's premier nonprofit organizations.
Equal Employment Opportunity
YWCA Lancaster is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome applicants of every race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We believe that diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds strengthen our organization and help advance our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Pay: $155,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
